Truthfully, I would be getting it done sooner than later. Last spring I have very good luck, introducing mine at three weeks, but a lot depends on your current set up.
In your run and coop, are they just open space? Often times I see set ups in which the birds are only allowed to use 2 dimensions of space. By adding platforms, hideouts, roosts in the run, birds can get out of sight of each and that really helps with integration.
I sectioned out a space in my run, using lattice panels. In there I had a shelter to protect them from the wind. I had a wooly hen for warm ups that I kept in a dog crate. I turned the hens out of the coop/run the day I took them down there. The chicks could go through the lattice like water, but they really didn't do it much the first day. I went down several times, kind of chased them, so they would know where the safe zone was.
At night, I picked up the dog crate and put it into the coop. In the day time back in the safe zone. Within a couple of days, the chicks were going in and out of the zone like water, if they got chased or pecked they had a safe spot. A week later, I went down, one panel had fallen over, the hens and chicks were all eating and getting along, so I took it down.
Effortless, and easy. Because of the panel, I did not lock my chicks in, but they did have a safe zone. I think by allowing the chicks to explore and return to safety on their terms and the layers terms, they quickly learn the proper chicken society. Much faster than if I was controlling when and how long the interaction took place.
I worried about this, but did not have a broody hen. In my opinion, earlier the better.
Mrs K
